Blog of Rights
Jeremy
Gunn
09/13/2007

Federal Prisons Take Elmer Fudd Approach to Book Ban

By Jeremy Gunn, Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief at 11:23am
The new motto for the Federal Bureau of Prisons policy on banning religious books was taken directly from the Elmer Fudd Hunting Manual: "Ready! Fire! Aim!"

Acting in secret and without prior public notification (where have we heard that before?), the Federal Bureau of Prisons has been removing religious books from pris
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12/10/2008

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christ-Mess

By Jeremy Gunn, Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief at 5:18pm

I remember, as a child, being warned about "people trying to take 'Christ' out of 'Christmas.'"

Nowadays we have been warned that there is a "war on Christmas."

Oddly enough, some of those culture warriors who have volunteered to protect the holiday turn out to be people who are themselves taking "Christ" out of "Christmas." In fact, they seem to be promoting Pagan symbols in the guise of Christianity. (I suspect that Pagans are not particularly happy about this trademark infringement.)

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09/12/2008

ADF Advice to Churches: "Violate the Tax Law!"

By Jeremy Gunn, Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief at 4:12pm

We couldn't help but notice that the folks over at the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) are encouraging pastors and preachers to violate federal tax laws by engaging in political activities that are now prohibited by the tax code.

Under current law, non-profit organizations, including churches, are not required to pay taxes if they refrain from those political activities that are now prohibited by the tax code. (Some activities are permitted while others are not. We will spare you the details.) Donors to tax-exempt organizations also get a tax break. (For inquiring minds, see what the IRS says.)

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04/25/2008

Bearing True Witness

By Jeremy Gunn, Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief at 4:39pm
'Ain't that a shame!'

Those were the words from Pat Boone's 1955 hit single that came to mind when I read his recent 'ACLU: Tear down this wall!'

Now I'm not as much of a biblical scholar as Pat Boone, but I always believed that one of the core messages of the Bible is 'not to b
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12/05/2007

A Christmas Carol from the ACLU

By Jeremy Gunn, Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief at 12:42pm
While some people are spreading urban legends about "wars on Christmas," the ACLU is working to defend the rights of families, individuals, and religious communities to practice their religion without government interference. In the spirit of the holiday season, Jeremy Gunn, Director of the ACLU's Freedom of Religion and Belief Program, penned these lyrics to the tune
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